Wall cabinet



B. E. EBERT WALL CABINET Aug. 6, 1940.

Filed Nov. 19, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l' 1720M BwzfizEEZeyj yzsw flaw B. E. EBERT WALL CABINET Aug. 6, 1940.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 19, 1938 I I I 6 I MM.- BME EM" Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES WALL CABINET Burton E. Ebert, Lansdowne, Pa., assignor to Scott Paper Company, Chester, 1 a., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 19, 1938, Serial No 241,427

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in towel dispensing wall fixtures, and a principal object of the invention is to provide a dispensing cabinet of this class of generally improved structural and functional characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet of this class designed so as to permit production by economical molding process from a suitable plastic composition such, for example, as Bakelite.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in acabinet of the character described novel and improved locking means, said lock being readily manipulated but substantially tamperproof. Astill further object of the invention is to provide a cabinet having a door affording access to the interior which shall be held in place on the cabinet without hinges, and to provide in conjunction with said door a novel latching means of a character to insure automatic movement of the door to open position in the act of releasing the latch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet of the stated character which shall be substantially dustproof.

The invention further resides in certain novel structural forms and details hereinafter described and illustrated in the attached drawings, where- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a cabinet made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational View of the cabinet;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55, Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 6-6, Fig. l;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing a detail of the construction;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view showing further structural details;

Fig. 9 is a detached view in perspective of the springdatching element;

Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of the latch-releasing key; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary sectional views lower walls 5 and 6 respectively. As shown in Fig. 5, the rear panel f the body member terminates short both of the upper or rear edge of the top wall 5 and of the lower or rear edge 01' the bottom wall 6, and from the upper edge of 5 the said rear panel a transverse wall or panel I extends forwardly between the side walls 4, 4 and joins the lower or forward edge of the top wall 5. This panel I forms the actual top wall of the main casing compartment, and the wall 5 is It will be noted that the bottom wall 6 is provided with a transverseopening B which functions in known manner and 'as hereinafter more specifically described as a portthroughwhich the individual towels may be withdrawn fromthe cabinet; and it will be noted further that the wall I is provided with a central fore andaft depression 9 which intersects the rear wall 3 and terminates short of the forward edge of the wall 'I, said depression forming a recess II, the function of which will be hereinafter described.

The inner surface of the rear wall 3 is provided with two longitudinal flat ribs I2, I2 which extend from the upper edge of the rear wall continuously to the bottom edge, and the lower end of each of these ribs i2 is extended transversely, as indicated at I3, I3 in Fig. 4. The outer surface of the rear wall 3 is recessed in back of the ribs I2, as indicated at I4, these recesses extending from the upper edge of the wall downwardly to a point short of the bottom edge. Rearwardly of the extensions I3 of the ribs I2 and of the adjoining lower ends of the ribs, the rear wall 3 is recessed, as indicated at I5, so that the said extensions I3 form in effect inwardly offset portions of the said rear wall removed transversely from the normal lower edge I6 of the rear wall by 'anintervening space IT. This space H is adapted to receive the upper edge of a separately formed rectangular stripor plate I8, the lower edge of this plate seating in a rabbeted recess I9 in the lower or rear edge of the bottom wall 6, and being secured in said'recess by means, in the present instance, of screws 2|, 2|. It will be apparent that the offset portions I3, I3 at the lower edge of the rear wall 3 extend downwardly over the inner face of the plate I8, while the lower edge portions I6 of the rear wall extend downwardly at the outer side of said plate, whereby the upper edge of the plate is confined in the space H. The screws 2 I, 21 which secure the lower edge of the plate are, therefore, sufficient to hold the latter securely in position, closing the space at the back of the cabinet between the lower edge of the rear wall 3 and the lower or rear edge of the bottom wall 6.

The rear wall 3 of the said body member of the cabinet is also provided with a plurality of pressed-out portions 22, each of which is provided with a transversely extending slot 23. These slots are adapted for reception of securing elements, such for example as screws, by means of which the cabinet may be secured to a wall or other surface, and the rear faces of the pressedout portions 22 seat against the wall surface.

With exception of the closure plate I8, the body I of the cabinet constitutes an integral molded member, and the construction described above is such as to permit the formation of this member by economical molding operation. It will be noted for example that the opening between the lower edge of the rear wall 3 and the bottom or rear edge of the bottom wall 6 of the cabinet, and the corresponding opening between the upper edge of the rear wall 3 and the upper or rear edge of the top wall 5, provide for entrance of the die elements required for forming the curved upper and lower walls 5 and 6 respectively; and that the opening at the front of ,the body .member between the forward or lower edge of the top wall 5 and the forward and upper edge of the bottom. wall 6, which opening extends transversely over the entire area between the side walls 4, 4, admits the die element required to form the rear wall 3 and the upper wall 1. Obviously, the body member can bemolded in a single operation.

.As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the front cover member 2 fits neatly in. the front of the body member within the opening between the forward edges of the side walls 4 and the forward edges ofthe top and bottom walls 5 and 6 respectively. The side edges 24, 24 of the cover 2 overlap and seat against the forward edges of the side walls 4, 4, as shown in Fig. 4, and at the inner side of the cover ,2, paralleling'and spacedinwardly from the extreme side edge portions 24, are ribs 25, 25 which extend inwardly along the inner faces of the side Walls 4 and hold the cover'2 against sidewise displacement in the body member. A rib. 26, see Fig; 5,.extends along theupper edge of the cover 2, and the lower or forward edge of the top wall 5 at' the juncture of this wall with the wall I is recessed at 21 to form' a shoulder 28 against which the inner side of the rib 26 bears. In the under side of the rib 26 at the mid section is a recess 29 whichis adapted to receive the outer turned-over end 3| of a leaf spring 32, and on the inner face of the rib opposite the recess 29 is an angular projection 39 which when the cover, in closing, is forced inwardly against the end of the spring acts as a cam to depress the latter so that the spring end may enter therecess. The inner end of'the spring, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, is fastened by means of screws 33 to the inner end wall of the recess H, the spring extending upwardly and forwardly over the depressed end wall 34 of the said recess, and downwardly at 32a to passunder the rib 26 andinto the recess 29. In the present instance, the forwardly extending portion of the spring 32 is bifurcated, asv

shown in Figs. 8 and 9. As also shown in Figs. 6 and 8,'the forward wall 34 of the recess II is provided at its extremity with a forwardly projecting flange 35, over and above which the spring 32 passes.

It will be apparent that the spring 32 functions as a latch to hold the upper edge of the cover 2 in position, and preferably, when the cover is in place with the outer end of the spring 3| occupying the recess 29, the spring is slightly depressed from its normal position, and, therefore, under some tension. Under these circumstances, the spring exerts an upward pressure upon the cover tending to force the upper edge of the cover against the top of the undercut recess 21.

The lower edge of the cover 2, see Fig. 5, which would normally seat upon the upper or forward edge of the bottom wall 6 of the body member, is provided at the inner edge with a depending rib or flange 36, this flange 36 extending downwardly inside the upper edge of the said bottom wall 6 and retaining the lower .end of the cover 2 in position. It will be noted that the upper edge of the bottom wall 6 is rabbeted on the inside, as indicated at 31, to provide for reception of the rib 36, and that the latter curves slightly inwardly from the lower edge of the cover 2 so as to present a smooth extended surface to the opposed surface of the bottom wall 6. It will be noted further that by reason of the upward pressure of the spring 32 upon the cover 2 as previously described, the lower edge of the cover is not solidly seated against the upper edge of the bottom wall 6, but is, nevertheless, held solidly in position by the lip or ge 35 so that the cover 2 can be released only by depression of the spring 32 sufliciently to free the outer end 3| of the spring from the recess 29 of the rib 26. It will be noted further that the outer surface of the coverv 2 is substantially smooth and free from the type of projection which would provide a hand-hold for drawing the door forwardly at the top from the normal closed position.

In order to provide for release of the spring latch 32 to permit the door to open, a key 38 is provided of the character shown in Fig. 10, and at the lower edge of the upper wall 5 are two keyways 39, 39 through which the bifurcations 4|, 4| of the key may be inserted over the upper edge of the cover 2 into engagement respectivelywith the corresponding bifurcations of the spring 32, When the key is fully inserted, as shown in Fig. 11, the inner ends of the bifurcations 9| engage the spring 32 at the upper part of the part 32a, and if now the outer end of the key is moved upwardly into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 11, the key pivoting around the outer edges of the slots 39, will force the spring 32 downwardly, as shown, to an extent releasing the cover 2, the upper end of the latter then swinging out by gravity. If there is any tendency for the cover 2 to remain in the normal position after the spring has been depressed, the'key, by reason of its peculiar form, may be caused by further slight elevation of the outer end to exert slight outward pressure upon the upper end of the cover displacing the latter from the normal position. This device permits the exclusion from the outer surface of the cover of anything in the nature of a knob or handle and provides for opening the cover by means solely of the key. In another mode of operation, as illustrated in Fig. 12, the key may be inserted only sufliciently to engage in back of the projection of the rib 26. By then pivoting the key upwardly, the upper edge of the door will be forced outwardly "first described will be required.

against the spr'ingtension, andwill cam the spring downwardly. When the cover is moved outwardly sufficient to free the turned-over end portion of the spring from the recess 29, the spring will flex upwardly against the inner beveled edge 30, and will thereby force the upper end of the cover further away from the clos'edposition. This latter mode of operation can be employed only when, as in the illustrated embodiment, the spring is formed so as to permit downward'flexing thereof by camming action of the contiguous portion of the cover. It is apparent; however, that the cover-engaging end of the spring and the recess 29 in which it engages may be mutually formed to preclude such camming action, and in that case the mode of operation It will be noted that by useof the bifurcated key, the latter can be inserted only to a predetermined extent and not sufficiently to permit the spring 32 to be flexed to an extent causing a permanent distortion of the spring. It will be noted further that when the door is open, only the front projecting portion of the spring is exposed, the rear end of the spring and the screws 33 being concealed and being housed within the body so as to prevent tampering. Still further,'-it will 'be noted that the flange 35 on the front wall 34 of the recess ll precludes any excessive downward flexure of the spring, so that the danger of permanent distortion from too great flexure of the spring is precluded.

In a cabinet of this character, the folded towels are inserted in a vertical stack, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 5, the flap of the lowermost folded towel being accessible through the opening 8 for withdrawal of the towel through this port. The forwardly and upwardly inclined bottom wall 6 holds the towels in an inclined position in the cabinet and brings the port 8 into a position readily accessible and visible from the front of the cabinet. A small slotted aperture 43 may be provided in the lower part of the cover through which the interior of the cabinet and the contained towels may be visible. Through this aperture it may be seen when the towels need replenishment. In= replenishing the towels, it is only necessary to insert the key 38 into the keyways 39 and to manipulate the key as described above to release the upper end of the cover, the latter falling outwardly. This manipulation of the key releasing the upper end of the cover and the supporting of the upper end of the cover to prevent its falling freely from the cabinet may be accomplished by use only of a single hand, leaving the other hand free to hold the fresh stack of towels: to be placed in the cabinet. In this operation, it is unnecessary to entirely remove the cover, which may be permitted to swing downwardly upon the flange 36 as asupport so that the cover may be swung upwardly into position without difliculty or delay when the towels have been inserted.

The cabinet as described is characterized by extreme simplicity of form and manufacture. It

is durable and strong and of desirable ornamental appearance, andbeing composed of Bakelite, or other suitable mo-ldable material, is substantially immune to damage or mutilation in ordinary use. The upper rounded wall of the cabinet is desirable not only as a matter of ornamental appearance, but also as providing at the top the downwardly and forwardly curved surface which precludes the placing of undesirable articles, such as wet tumblers or cigarette butts, upon the top with consequent possible marring of the cabinet. It will be noted further that by reason of the provision of the inner upper wall I and of the cover plate ill at the back, the cabinet is substantially fully enclosed and dustproof, and atthe same time is of a form which renders it adaptable to manufacture by a molding operation in two principal parts, one consisting of the integral body of-the case, and the other of the cover '2.

I claim:

1. In a wall cabinet of the type set forth, an integral molded body comprising side, rear "and forwardly converging top and bottom walls, and an open front the upper and lower edges of which are defined respectively by the forwardfedges 1 of said top and bottom walls, said rear wall terminating at top and'bottom substantially in line with the said forward edges respectively of the top and bottom walls, and a panel joining the top of the rear wall to the forward edge of the top wall and constituting the effective upper wall of the interior chamber of the cabinet.

2. In a wall cabinet of the type set forth, an integral molded body comrising side, rear and forwardly converging top and bottom walls, and an open front the upper and lower edges of which are defined respectively by the forward edges of said top and bottom walls, said rear wall terminating at "top and bottom substantially in line with the said forward edges respectively of the top and bottom walls, a panel joining the top of the rear wall to the forward edge of the top wall, and a separately formed closure panel fitting the open front of said body, said bottom wall having therein a transversely extended port affording access to the interior of the cabinet.

3. In a wall cabinet of the type set forth, an integral molded body comprising side, rear and forwardly converging top and. bottom walls, and an open front the upper and lower edges of which are defined respectively by the forward edges of said top and bottom walls, said rear wall terminating at top and bottom substantialy in line with the said forward edges respectively of the top and bottom walls, a panel extending between the side walls and joining the top of the rear wall to the forward edge of the top wall, and separately formed closure panels respectively fitting the open. front of said body and the opening at the rear of the body between the lower edge of the rear wall and the rear edge of the bottom wall, said bottom wall having therein a transversely extended port affording access to the interior of the cabinet.

4. In a wall cabinet of the stated type, an integral molded body comprising side, rear and forwardly converging top and bottom walls, and an open front the upper and lower edges of which are defined respectively by the forward edges of said top and bottom walls, said rear wall terminating at top and bottom substantially in line with the said forward edges respectively of the top and bottom walls, a panel joining the top of the rear wall to the forward edge of the top wall, said panel having a recess accessible through the opening at the back of said body above the rear wall, together with a slotted opening forwardly of said recess, a separately formed closure panel fitting the open front of said body, and a latch for said closure panel detachably secured in said recess and extending forwardly through said opening to engage the closure panel.

5. In a wall cabinet of the stated type, a body comprising side, rear and forwardly converging top and bottom walls, and an open front the upper and lower edges of which are defined respectively by the forward edges of said top and bottom walls, said rear wall terminating at the top substantially in line with the said forward edge of the top wall, a panel joining the top of the rear wall to the forward edge of the top wall, said panel being recessed from the top and having an opening forwardly of said recess, a latch element detachably secured in said recess and extending forwardly through said opening, and a closure fitting the open front of said body and adapted for interlocking engagement with said latch.

6. In a wall cabinet of the stated type, a body comprising side, rear and forwardly converging topand bottom walls, and an open front the upper and lower edges of which are defined respectively by the forward edges of said top and bottom walls, said rear wall terminating at the top substantially in line with the forward edge of said top wall, a panel joining the top of the rear wall to the forward edge of the top wall, said panel being recessed from the top and having a slotted opening forwardly of said recess and adjacent the front of the cabinet, a resilient latch detachably secured in said recess and extending forwardly through said opening into the open front of said cabinet, means overlying said resilient latch element and limiting the amount of upward fiexure of its forward end, and a closure member fitting the open front of said' cabinet and adapted for interlocking engagement with said resilient latch.

7. In a wall cabinet of the stated type, a body comprising side, rear and forwardly converging top and bottom walls, and an open front the upper and lower edges of which are defined respectively by the forward edges of said top and bottom walls, said rear wall terminating at the top substantially in linewith the forward edge of said top wall, a panel joining the top of the rear wall to the forward edge of the top wall, said panel having a recess accessible from the rear exterior of the body and an opening forwardly of said recess and adjacent the front of the cabinet, a resilient latch detachably secured in said recess and extending forwardly through said opening into the open front of said cabinet, a closure member fitting the open front of said cabinet and adapted for interlocking engagement with said resilient latch, and means providing a keyway between the upper edge of said closure and the body of said cabinet, said keyway affording access to the forward end of said latch whereby the latter may be depressed to release the closure.

BURTON E. EBERT. 

